Towns get $5.5M storm aid from state

FITCHBURG — The state announced last week that it will reimburse cities, towns, regional school districts and municipal light departments some of the outstanding costs from last year’s ice storm.

The announcement from Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray came on Thursday, Dec. 10, at a press conference in Fitchburg. He announced the release of $5.5 million in state funding to help reimburse communities for costs associated with the December 2008 ice storm.

“Last year, a state of emergency was declared for counties in the central and western region of the commonwealth due to the ice storm, further impacting residents, businesses, cities and towns during an already challenging economic time,” Murray said. “Thanks to the partnership between our administration, legislators, local officials and the federal government, we are now able to reimburse communities for some of what they spent to recover from this terrible event.”

The $5.5 million will be distributed to 165 communities in Berkshire, Hampshire, Hampden, Franklin, Worcester, Essex, Bristol, Suffolk and Middlesex counties. Additionally, funds will reimburse nine regional school districts and five municipal light departments. The state’s Department of Revenue released the breakdowns for the reimbursements.

The funds come in addition to the $49.2 million the Federal Emergency Management Agency distributed to Massachusetts after Gov. Deval Patrick sought emergency relief in the days following the Dec. 11-12, 2008, ice storm.

FEMA reimburses up to 75 percent of eligible costs for storm response, including emergency work, debris clearance and restoration work. The state and the affected communities will split the remaining costs.